Biography

Najma Moosa is a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher and currently holds the position of senior professor of law at the University of the Western Cape, where she was also the ‘first’alumna to receive a master’s and doctoral degree in law. 1986 tutor, Faculty of Law, UWC

1987 teaching assistant, Faculty of Law, UCT

1989 admitted as Advocate to High Court of South Africa

1989 part time lecturer, Law, UWC

1993 doctoral fellowship to Yale University, USA

1994 appointed full time senior lecturer, Law, UWC

1998 ad hominem promotion to associate professor, UWC

1999 University of London post-doctoral academic fellowship, research book

1999-2003 Member of Project Committee (Islamic Marriages & Related Matters) of the South African Law Reform Commission

2004 published 1st edition of book: Unveiling the Mind. The Legal Position of Women in Islam (see 2nd edition below*)

2006 Completed joint HERS-SA + American Council on Education (ACE) certificated HE Leadership programme at Old Dominion University, USA (female mentorship and training as University President (Rector))

2010 to date Resumed duties as Senior Professor, Law, UWC

2010 NRF rated researcher

She served as departmental chairperson was the first female dean of the faculty and served as dean for seven years. She has been the recipient of many teaching and research awards including the Vice-Chancellor’s (University) Distinguished Teaching Award. She was also admitted as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa in 1989. She was a Member of Project Committee (Islamic Marriages & Related Matters) of the South African Law Reform Commission from 1999-2003. She was part of the team responsible for drafting legislation pertaining to the recognition of Muslim marriages. After a further protracted process, it is envisaged that the latest (2010) Muslim Marriages Bill will be enacted into legislation this year (2012). She has recently published a book in this regard (Moosa, N. 2011 Unveiling the Mind. The Legal Position of Women in Islam – A South African Context. Second edition. p vi-169 Cape Town: Juta Law. ISBN 978 0 7021 8648 6).

She is an alumna of both HER-SA and the American Council on Education (ACE) and has completed two certificated Higher Education leadership programmes in the USA where she was mentored by women in their respective roles as dean (Wellesley College, USA 2002) and as president (rector) (Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, 2005). Last, but not least, she has been married for plus 25 years and is mother to two adult children, one of whom got married this year and also has a ‘laatlammetjie’ (now already 14).

Completed joint HERS-SA + American Council on Education (ACE) certificated HE Leadership programme at Old Dominion University, USA (female mentorship and training as University President (Rector)